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DEMOGRAPHICS OF BIRDERS Birding has published a number of articles and letters on the subject of birders' demographics in the United States. Some of these results from surveys, including the NRSE Survey , others from questions posed by its readers. One notable example was a debate about the racial mix of the birding community, sparked by a letter from Martin Reid entitled "Why Are We So White?" (Reid 1999). The thrust of Reid's letter was to ask why non-whites are heavily under-represented among the North American birding community, and to ask what can be done to change that. The letter provoked a considerable response, with 11 letters published in issue 5 of volume 31. Opinions varied considerably. Some letters, such as those from Jim Vardaman and Jeanne Tinsman felt that as birding is a hobby, birders are under no obligation to ensure inclusivity. One respondent, Floyd Carley, described Reid's letter as "puerile", and another, Phil Booth, sarcastically wrote that quotas for birding should be introduced and that birders should be banned from birding alone, pointing out that "It takes a village to identify a warbler" (an oblique reference to Hillary Rodham Clinton 's book " It Takes A Village "). Judith Todd, of California State University cited figures from the NRSE survey and 1990 US census which suggested that black people are not exceptionally under-represented (8.4% vs. 11% in the U.S. population as a whole). One respondent, Lamar B. Gore, a young black member of the ABA, pointed out that he knew only one other black member, and felt that the lack of acceptance of black people by U.S. birders in some states may be one cause of the problem Reid highlighted. Kenn Kaufman agreed with Reid that the problem was a real one, and agreed that a discussion was worthwhile. As of 2006, the subject has not featured prominently again in Birding. SEE ALSO REFERENCES
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